Hi! I’m Kathy Ide. In addition to being a published author, I’m a full-time professional freelance editor. For CAN, I’m blogging about "PUGS"–Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling…tips for writers based on the most common mistakes I see in the manuscripts I edit. Each blog post will have one tip for each of the four categories. (For more PUGS tips, check out my website, or get a copy of my book Polishing the PUGS (available through the website or at the conferences where I teach). If you’re interested in working with a freelance editor (or know someone who is), e-mail me through…
Category: Writing craft
This is our archive pageOh, That Zany English Language!
Hello! Maureen Pratt here with another blog post about the writing art and craft. This time, some thoughts about the English language and how we might mix it up a little to yield fresh "color," insight, and depth to our work. Two real life events have inspired me to blog about this. One was a conversation I overheard in the post office. It went like this: Postal Clerk (handing Customer a pane of stamps): Here you go. Customer: Where? Here I go where? Postal Clerk: Your stamps, sir. Here you go. Customer: Where do I go? Postal Clerk (pointing at…
Research For Suspense Writing— Part IV plus Michigan Christian Writers Conference.
Welcome to the Can Blog on Writing from Gail Gaymer Martin at www.GaiGaymerMartin.com Spring brings flowers and trees heavy with blooms, a rebirth for the world, and that’s how I see writing, a rebirth of ideas born in my head but given life on paper. I hope these ideas inspire you. I have two topics today — one is the research techniques for suspense fiction and the other an invitation to a conference I’ll be keynoting along with a book signing in Owosso, MI on Saturday, May 25. Here’s the info: Mid-Michigan Christian Writer’s Conference in Owosso MI, Keynote Speaker: Gail Gaymer…
PUGS Pointers #21
Hi! I’m Kathy Ide. In addition to being a published author, I’m a full-time professional freelance editor. For CAN, I’m blogging about "PUGS"–Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling…tips for writers based on the most common mistakes I see in the manuscripts I edit. Each blog post will have one tip for each of the four categories. (For more PUGS tips, check out my website, or get a copy of my book Polishing the PUGS (available through the website or at the conferences where I teach). If you’re interested in working with a freelance editor (or know someone who is), e-mail me through the contact…
Interview Techniques for the Time-Constrained
Hello and a very happy springtime to you! Maureen Pratt here with my monthly CAN blog on the Writing Craft. This time, I thought I'd go "behind the scenes" and offer some tips on conducting interviews when either you or your subject (or both) don't have oodles of time to sit and gab. Although this might seem like a narrowly focused topic, it's not. On more than one occasion, I've had to interview subjects of articles, books, or blogs and been very, very pressed for time. How do you get everything you need out of an interview that's short and, perhaps,…
Making Poems Different III
Hello, I’m Donn Taylor, back again after several months of alligators up to the ears. I’m still talking about ways to achieve the “higher voltage” that distinguishes poetry from most prose. We’re still looking at ways to make your poems different from many that editors will see. Most of the new poems I’m seeing are written in the poet’s own voice, with the poet as speaker (persona) of the poem and the poet’s self as the subject. It’s safe to assume that editors will see more of that kind of poem than any other. Previously we illustrated making your poem…
Research For Contemporary Fiction IIIA
Hi from Gail Gaymer Martin at www,gailgaymermartin.com Weeks seem to fly by and I’m late sending the third part of Research for Contemporary Fiction. Thought it might seem contemporary fiction is not as complex to research as historical, it is still important and can take much time, depending on the plots of the novel. While historical elements are not significant in most cases when researching contemporary, setting location can still require time-consuming research, as well researching details of the story such as medical information, how to do specific things in the plot, and so much more.
PUGS Pointers #20
Hi! I’m Kathy Ide. In addition to being a published author, I’m a full-time professional freelance editor. For CAN, I’m blogging about "PUGS"–Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling…tips for writers based on the most common mistakes I see in the manuscripts I edit. Each blog post will have one tip for each of the four categories. (For more PUGS tips, check out my website, or get a copy of my book Polishing the PUGS (available through the website or at the conferences where I teach). If you’re interested in working with a freelance editor (or know someone who is), e-mail me through the contact page…
Writing for Children Part 2–Preschool Picture Books
Last time, I posted a blog on Writing for Children (Part 1), and addressed the challenge of writing boardbooks. The next sub-genre in the genre of children’s literature is what I call the preschool picture book. This is not the 32-page picture book with a full plot and story (i.e. beginning, middle, and happy ending). The books in this category are books that consist mainly of word play. What do I mean by "word play"? Glad you asked.
Research For Historical Fiction – Part II
Hi from Gail Gaymer Martin at www.gailgaymermartin.com. I'm sorry I missed the blog last month. I was staying in Sedona, AZ for two months and we'd driven back to Michigan and empty half my office into the living room and boxes of so many things we lug with us, and it took a few days to get organized. But I'm back again and happy to share more about researching for fiction. In January, I talked about Writing Fiction in general. Today I will share Part II of the information on Researching Historical Fiction.
